Best Christmas Events in London for 2024 hand picked by our editors

Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar, with a humongous light trail taking over the 300-acre botanic garden. See the space lit up with larger-than-life illuminations, with both the venue’s glass houses and the trees that cover its grounds drenched in different hues. The whole thing is stunning, but don’t miss the lake, where you’ll catch reflections of the vibrant bulbs dancing on the water, taking the magical feeling to another level.  Keep yourself toasty along the way with warming winter snacks and make sure you pop by the grotto to say hi to Father Christmas himself.

Somerset House’s iconic ice rink has become a Christmas tradition for Londoners and visitors heading to the capital for some festive cheer. There’s good reason – gliding (or, at least, attempting to) around the rink, gazing upon the Georgian architecture and 40ft Christmas tree feels like you’ve skated onto a movie set, ready to be watched by families settling in for their post-turkey food coma. We’d recommend visiting for one of its Skate Lates series, where you can glide around to a soundtrack by DJs including Rinse FM, Daytimers’ Rohan Rakhit, Dankie Sounds, and Jay Jay Revlon. 

Find more places to go ice skating in London

Each year, Hyde Park gets transformed from pretty park to Winter Wonderland. The annual favourite returns in 2024 for its seventeenth year, bringing a sleigh-load of festive fun with it. As you make your way around the space, you’ll find fairground rides, a child-friendly Santa Land (including Santa’s Grotto, where presents may be waiting) and traditional Christmas markets where you’ll be able to buy gifts for all your loved ones. Other highlights include circuses and, of course, the biggest outdoor ice rink in the UK. It surrounds the Victorian bandstand and is lit up by more than 100,000 lights – if that doesn’t get you feeling festival, nothing will, especially as your ears will be full of Christmas tunes as you glide around the ice. There’s also the Real Ice Slide and ice scultpting workshops, so get ready to get frosty. Warm yourself up later with frothing steins at the German-style Bavarian Village.

Classical music impresario Raymond Gubbay presents his annual handpicked selection of music for the festive season. Highlights include the Christmas carol singalong (Dec 17), Love Actually with live orchestra (Dec 21), Beethoven's Ninth (Dec 28), the music of Zimmer vs Willimas (Dec 31), and the New Year's Day Proms. All set to take place in the Barbican's lovely hall, these musical picks are a classy, Christmassy way to spend an evening. 

Dreaming of a kitsch Christmas? New York’s famous Miracle on Ninth Street bar is popping up in London for its seventh year, ‘50s Christmas decorations, nostalgic accessories and creative new spins on beloved cocktail favourites in tow. This year’s menu is still a work in progress, but past years have seen the bar slinging the likes of a Snowball Old Fashioned or a Christmapoliton, which includes cranberry sauce and absinthe mist – a take on Christmas trimmings that’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re failing to find the Christmas spirit, this is one great place to come find it.

The Rivoli Ballroom’s interior is already enough to get you in the mood for Christmas, thanks to it being decked out in opulent red and gold. Imagine, then, how festive you’ll feel after watching some fantastic Xmas movies from within its four walls. This year, it’ll be once again screening some Christmas classics, from both ‘Home Alone’s to ‘Gremlins’, ‘Elf’, ‘Love Actually’ and, yes, ‘Die Hard’. Fight over whether that last one is a Christmas movie or not among yourselves – we’re going to be too busy tucking into popcorn and ice cream.

RECOMMENDED: Find more festive pop-up cinemas and film screenings

Forgot peering up into the Christmas Eve sky for a glimpse of Santa – he’s taking up residency at the Natural History Museum in December, before his busy period really takes off. Head down to South Kensington to intro the kids to Father Christmas in his grotto, which will be decorated with snowy trees and comfy cushions perfect for chilling on while the big man tells everyone a festive tale. Each session lasts 45 minutes and, after, there’s the chance for the little ones to receive a present and take a photo with Mr Claus himself. Ho ho ho!

RECOMMENDED: Find more great Santa’s grottos

The DIY Christmas Art Market is a veritable jamboree of potential gifts – either to give to friends and family, or to treat yourself with. As well as art prints and risograph and screen prints, the market will have t-shirts, patches, comics, tote bags, ceramics, zines and independent publications on its stalls, ready to be wrapped up and put under the tree. Sample the eclectic creativity with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie to really ramp up the festivities. 

Opening Dates: December 7

Best For: Finding true one-off gifts

Not everyone is lucky enough to have somewhere cosy to enjoy Christmas from, and that includes some of our four-legged friends. Help the famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home continue to do its work rescuing London’s strays while belting your heart out in a Chelsea church – a guaranteed festive and feel good time. Carols will be performed by the Collegium Music of London Chamber Choir (CML) and the night will end with a round of mulled wine and mince pies, plus the chance to raise even more funds from charity stalls.

The Julian Clary show – aka the Palladium panto – rolls back into town for another Christmas, with the smutty comedy legend and firmly established star of the whole thing taking on the role of the eponymous moralist bandit, opposite national treasure Jane MacDonald as Maid Marion. Elsewhere, regulars Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Charlie Stemp and Rob Madge return, plus there’s some new blood in the shape of West End stars Marisha Wallace and Tosh Wanogho-Maud. The show tends to feel a lot more like a series of turns than a coherent story, but that kind of befits the Palladium, and Clary’s astonishingly near-to-the-knuckle humour really is something to behold.

RECOMMENDED: Find more London Christmas pantos

Father Christmas is getting some posh new digs this festive season in a grotto experience that will tick the boxes for kids and adults alike. He’ll take up residence at Anya Hindmarch’s Village store in Chelsea, where visitors will be guided through a wintry wonderland of candy cane forests and icicle caves. When they make it to their destination, they’ll be rewarded with a festive story by the fire and a gift from Saint Nick. Grown-ups get a free hot drink from the Anya Cafe, where there will be piles of mince pies, gingerbread men and Christmas cakes on sale. Exit through the gift shop to buy limited-edition Anya Hindmarch gifts and Christmas decorations, including ceramic tree baubles, crackers, puzzles, mugs, crayons and teddy bears. 

If you’re looking for a carol concert with a twist, try out LondonSwede’s Lucia Night. It celebrates a traditional Swedish event, typically held around December 13, that boasts a choir procession, angelic white gowns and songs in both Swedish and English. Each year, this Scandinavian spectacular sees a Swedish music star join the choir – there’s no word on the guest for 2024 yet, but previous appearances have come from Miriam Bryant, Molly Hammer and Cornelia Jakobs. There’ll also be glögg and fika to get you feeling hygge.

If you’re struggling to find the perfect, unique present for a loved one, the Christmas Independent Ceramics Market is bound to have the answer. The annual fair brings together over 150 ceramics makers, from students to established artists, all selling their distinctive wares in one space. Browse stall after stall of cups, sculptures and more and keep your eyes peeled for that special treasure. The market will make things more festive with a sound system to soundtrack your shopping, plus mulled wine and seasonal food to keep you refreshed on your search.

Festive karaoke is a bit of a tradition for us lot in the Time Out office. If you’re also a fan of necking half a bottle of prosecco and belting out some Michael Bublé, you’ll love this festive edition of the phenomenon that is Massaoke, or ‘mass karaoke’. Popping up at a host of London venues this December, it’s offering you plenty of chances to warble along to Mariah, Wham, Slade and all your other favourite festive bangers soundtracked by a live band, and with lyrics on the screen in case you somehow don’t have every word of ‘Fairytale of New York’ etched into your brain. Christmas jumpers and festive fancy dress are of course encouraged.

Spitalfields always gets in the festive spirit come Christmas time and 2024 is no exception. As well as all the usual stalls, stocking stuffers, and toasty food and drinks, there’ll be special discounts, advent calendars and late-night shopping so you can squeeze in some present-buying after work. If scouring the stands gets too much, head to 30 Spital Square to catch Wildefolk Theatre’s family-friendly adaptation of classic winter tale The Overcoat. 

Opening Dates: November 26

Best For: Stylish stocking stuffers

The world of solid dairy has some truly devoted fans and they’ll do well to pay a visit to Borough Market’s annual Evening of Cheese, where they’ll find an enormous range of products from all over the world to tempt turophiles, including wines, ciders, chutneys and – obviously – absolutely loads of top quality cheese from around Europe. Looking to craft the perfect festive cheeseboard? Head down to get your paws on loads of tasty little samples, and some expert advice from the market’s artisanal traders. There will, of course, be drinks on hand to complete the gouty vibes. 

If your idea of festive fun involves rewatching Die Hard for the umpteenth time, then you’ll love this Christmassy edition of Riot Cabaret’s ever-popular wrestling night. Expect immaculate festive vibes, high-flying action and a host of jaw-dropping surprises as Riot Cabaret’s roster of glittery spandex-clad pro wrestlers battle it out in the ring. Be sure to arrive for the pre-show at 7.20pm, before three hard-hitting hours of wrestling bouts. From balloon drops to surprise bouts breaking out in the audience, you never know what’s gonna happen at Riot Cabaret...especially at Christmas!

Get yourself feeling ridiculously festive with an evening of carols inside Sir Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece, aka St Paul’s Cathedral. The legendary London landmark hosts a series of mostly free and unticketed carol concerts each year, alongside a couple of ticketed charity gigs raising money for charity. Visit over December for a huge range of concerts, including family-friendly services, Handel's Messiah, and traditional carols. The big events to look out for are A Celebration of Christmas (Dec 12) and the Christmas Carol Service (Dec 23 and 24). The concerts are always hugely popular, so get down there early and be prepared to queue. Start practising your high notes now. You can find full information here. 

Given this market is held at the Chelsea Physic Garden, it makes sense that’s a top stop on the seasonal fair circuit for picking up some lush new plants and botanical gifts. But there’s so much more on offer here, too, including jewellery, decorations, textiles and quirky gifts from indie designers. There are over 100 stalls to browse so make sure you stop by the garden café to help keep your energy levels high.

Opening Dates: November 21-24

Best For: Presents for the green-fingered person in your life

Trevor Nelson will be turning up the soul at the Royal Albert Hall, where he's held a big Christmas bash since 2019. Special guests will join him to perform re-imagined and re-socred soul and R&B tracks, backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and Kingdom Choir. There’ll be an after-party to keep the celebrations going, too, with a DJ set from Nelson himself.

Endlessly inventive duo Sh!t Theatre are putting their own messed-up spin on a love-to-hate (or hate-to-love) movie classic this Christmas. Sh!t Actually is a two woman remake of festive Britflick Love Actually. And if previous Sh!t Theatre shows like DollyWould and Sing-a-long-A-Muppet Christmas Carol anything to go by, it'll involve Powerpoint jokes galore, comedy songs, and bags of offbeat feminist energy.

It runs in rep at CPT this Christmas with the duo’s aforementioned Muppet Christmas Carol.

What’s more Christmassy than visiting Santa’s grotto? Going for a pint or two with the man in red in his favourite boozer, of course. Humbug, an immersive Christmas dive bar, allows you to do just that – and join Mr Claus in rounds of games, sing-a-longs, live performances, storytelling and more. It’s all threaded together with a mission to cheer a weary Santa up and help him rekindle his Christmas spirit. Humbug’s 2024 return will include a shrine to the queen of Christmas Mariah Carey, a beer can bowling alley, a grotto and cabaret from the venue’s regular cast. Saving the festive season never sounded so fun.

One of London’s quirkiest Christmas traditions as well as being one of the oldest, the Peter Pan Cup has been contested on Christmas mornings since 1864. Strictly a spectator event – unless you happen to be a regular, not to mention hardy, member of the Serpentine Swimming Club – the name of the 100-yard swimming race in Hyde Park’s lido derives from the 1904 edition, when author and playwright Sir James Barrie presented the trophy to the winner. The race commences at 9am so head down to watch the brave folk go for it before you start opening your presents.

Dennis Severs’ House – aka the ornate Huguenot house that sits on a Spitalfields backstreet – is a real-life time capsule. Part museum and part art piece, its rooms are still decorated in the manner of a family home between 1724 and 1914. Each Christmas, it becomes a seasonal hotspot and visitors are greeted with gingerbread figures and figgy pudding mix laid out in the 18th-century kitchen, Christmas trees wrapped up in decorations and a lavish holiday feast set out on the dining room table. Book an after-dark ‘Silent Night’ tour to see it glowing with candlelight, but be warned – all tours sell out very quickly. You can visit the house without the need to book on some days – check the website for updates.

In scenes only slightly less dramatic and probably far more entertaining than the Grand National, more than 40 pantomime horses (plus a few pretenders in the form of zebras and cows) will gallop through Greenwich on this race, raising money for charity. The theme for this year is yet to be confirmed, but expect it to be something that lends itself to all-out silliness. There is usually entertainment in the form of an opening ceremony, plus other antics throughout the day and an after-party with live music, comedy and DJs. Everybody's welcome at the bash, but if you think you're capable of a charity canter you'll need to sign up in advance, by emailing entries@pantohorserace.org. 

Begins at Davenport House in Greenwich. 

This Christmas will be the twenty-fifth Hackney Empire panto since the iconic East London venue turned back into a theatre after a stint as a bingo hall, and well over half of those productions (17 to be precise) have involved Clive Rowe, who is back for 2025 as director and as London’s most iconic dame. There’s no other casting announced yet, though Hackney rarely casts celebrities and tends to have a posse of regulars (comedian Kat B inevitably features). There’s no word on how the timeless tale of Dick and his cat will be interpreted, though the Hackney panto tends to have a good-natured local focus and a real sense of grounding in east London.

Dalston’s newest queer venue The Divine celebrates its first ever Christmas season with loads of festive shows from east London’s favourite queerdos this December. Polish drag collective Slav 4 U kick off the Christmas period with a performance-fuelled natter about Slavic festive traditions co-hosted by Polka Dot and Stealia Jobs (Fri Dec 6). Then there’s a special festive edition of absurdist drag show Don’t Drag Me I’m Scared (Sun Dec 8 and Mon Dec 9) followed by a Christmassy special of Queerdos Cabaret hosted by Rhys’ Pieces (Fri Dec 13). After something that leans into the religious themes a little more? Check out Heteronornativity (Mon Dec 16), where six acts have been tasked with creating a show inspired by the role they performed in their childhood school nativity. It’s gonna be camp as Christmas. 

The Macmillan Christmas Carol Concert is a star-studded affair and this year its lineup boasts the likes of Joanna Lumley and Floella Benjamin. They’ll be on hand to guide a programme that features classics like ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ and ‘Hark, The Herald Angels Sing’, plus the premiere of a newly commissioned piece by ‘War Horse’ composer Adrian Sutton. The event is all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, so you can do a festive good deed while having a jolly night out. 

If you’re looking for a seriously silly festive screening, look no further than south London’s cathedral of camp, the Clapham Grand. As usual, the storied old former music hall will be hosting a variety of OTT events this Christmas, including two screenings of noughties classic Christmas romcom Love Actually. Starting at midday, the earlier of the two is perfectly scheduled for brunch plans, while the second, at 6.30pm, is sure to be a raucous Saturday night out. And, as is typical of the Grand’s movie screenings, both promise a variety of entertaining antics besides the actual film, including a live host, snow machines, mince pies, sing-along carols, festive games and confetti/balloon drops. Food comes courtesy of Hot Beige, which will be offering pigs in blankets, hot dogs and nachos (with vegan options too!), while the bar will be serving up festive cocktails and mulled wine. And as always, spectators are encouraged to dress up for the occasion, with prizes being awarded for the best costumes. Sure, you’ve probably seen the Richard Curtis fave at least a dozen times before. But we can guarantee you’ve never seen it like this!

Step into the historical world of Fulham Palace for its fourth annual Christmas fair for a taste of Crimbos past. There’ll be a grotto tombola, tuck shop full of festive treats, carols in the courtyard and a host of activities to take part in. The main attraction, though, is still the market itself, which celebrates small businesses and local traders. Shop til you drop as you peruse the handicrafts and fine foods up for grabs, then retire to the drawing room café for a well-earned glass of mulled wine.

Opening Dates: November 30

Best For: Handcrafted stocking fillers

Set up in 2018 by a mother in search of positive Black representation at Christmastime for her children, Noir Kringle offers a full-on grotto experience with a Black Santa. This is no rushed meet-and-greet, either – kids will have one hour to explore the grotto and take part in activities, like making Mrs Kringle’s reindeer food, attending a mini elf school and a group hang with Mr Kringle aka the Black Santa himself. The little ones will get to share their Christmas wish list with Mr Kringle, receive a gift to take home and be able to pose for some snaps with him too. It sounds super fun, but also an important step towards introducing more diversity into Christmas and extending inclusion to (whisper it) fictional characters. Tickets go on sale on October 11. 

London boasts some impressive backdrops to its ice rinks, but few are as steeped in history as Hampton Court Palace. As you slip and slide around the ice, you can gaze up at Henry VIII’s sixteenth-century pad and wonder what he’d make of all this, or just keep your eye out for any of the palace’s rumoured ghosts. Even better, this rink is next to the Thames, so you can pretend you’re gliding down the river as you skate. As well as imagination-fuelling, the spot is also family-friendly, with skate aids available for kids if you book in advance. Head to the café after to warm up with hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies.

Opening times: 9:30am-9pm

Price: £18-£21; child £13-£15.50

Got a thirst for adventure and winter-themed alcoholic drinks? Up at The O2 – the entertainment centre’s dare-devil tour that lets you climb up the outside of the famous white dome (strapped into a harness, of course) – has been given a festive makeover. All climbers will get to retreat into an immersive snow globe after reaching the 52m-high summit. Inside your promised falling snow, the sweet smell of cookies and a ‘whimsical winter set-up’ to enjoy looking out at the stonking views of the city from. There’ll also be gingerbread cookies to snack on and glasses of bubbly. 

One of Christmas’ great perks is all the food you’re allowed to stuff your face with. You don’t have to wait til December 25 to get started. At Maltby Street Market every Friday from the end of November, the food market’s finest traders will be cooking up some scrumptious snacks for you to fill your boots (or, well, stomach) with, all beneath Victorian railway arches lined with twinkling lights. Usually, the Christmas market offers entertainment like carolling and wreath-making so keep your eye out for word on activities.

There are few venues as Christmassy as Royal Albert Hall – its iconic music hall evokes memories of Decembers past in chilly church halls, listening to organs play and choirs sing, no matter what time of year you visit. Stopping by ahead of Christmas, then, is a guaranteed way to get yourself in a festive mood and what better event to attend than one of its sing-along carol services. Warm up your pipes and practice your keys, even the most tone-deaf among us won’t be able to help joining in.

The sport of curling – the one you watch on telly during the Olympics and find curiously engaging – is coming to London. The Curling Club will be taking up residence in both the Southbank Centre and The Shack in Twickenham, bringing ‘epic apres nightlife’ along with it. Both venues will be given a proper apres-ski makeover with wintry cocktails, Alpine-inspired street food and entertainment on hand, alongside an opportunity to try your hand at the ‘short form’ version of the game under the expert tutelage of Team GB Skip and four-time Olympian Eva Muirhead OBE.  

Choosing just which grotto in London to meet Santa in can be hard, but London Zoo might just have the edge. Where else can you shake hands with the big guy and then go off and meet some of Mother Earth’s cutest creatures? This year, kids can take part in special Christmas crafts activities before they’re introduced to the man, the myth, the legend himself in his cosy grotto and receive a special gift to remember the day by. An audience with the man in red will cost extra, but the zoo’s other seasonal attractions – including a giant animal advent calendar, Christmas-themed animal talks and marshmallow toasting– will be open through to January.

By now, you’ve probably seen more festive reworkings of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ than you’ve had turkey dinners with all the trimmings. But one version that remains a must-watch – no matter how many times you’ve seen it before – is ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’. Some might say it’s the best Christmas film ever made. Regardless of your stance on that, one thing is for sure – watching it with a live orchestra accompaniment would be a truly heavenly way to get in full-on Christmas mode.

Piano pop star Jamie Cullum is getting in the Christmas spirit with his ‘The Pianoman at Christmas’ show. The special night will see the musician joined by a big band as he treats the audience to renditions of his own recent Christmas classics and an arsenal of covers.

Curling has been growing in popularity in recent years, nudged on by its compelling showings at various Winter Olympics, and you can try your hand at it in King’s Cross this winter. This pop-up outdoor arena boasts six synthetic curling lanes, on which you can curl your heart out for 45 minutes before rewarding yourself with a tasty cocktail at the Curling Club bar. Last year’s 90s theme is being replaced by bright neons, with Walthamstow’s God’s Own Junkyard recreating their warehouse in the bar. Booking opens on October 11.

You’ve probably walked past St Martin-in-the-Fields while hurrying through Trafalgar Square, but now’s your chance to slow down, stop in and soak up its atmosphere. This December, it will play host to a series of evening concerts featuring carol singing and festive readings. Organisers say to expect to hear the choir singing classics like ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Carol Of The Bells’, while the audience will be encouraged to join in the likes of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ and ‘Once In Royal David’s City’. Pre-book a mince pie and mulled wine (or hot choc and popcorn for the kids) to make your evening out extra Christmassy.

If you’re one of those people who adamantly argues that Die Hard is absolutely a ‘Christmas movie’, or simply someone who relishes the opportunity to revisit some classics over the festive period, then you’ll love this festive film season at the BFI Southbank. It features an eclectic programme of movies few would seriously argue are Christmas films, but which all feature at least one scene set during the December holiday period. There’s all sorts on here, from cult queer films like John Waters’ Female Trouble and Sean Baker’s 2015 trans comedy-drama Tangerine to classic gangster hit Goodfellas, the Ryuichi Sakamoto-soundtracked war film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, Kubrick thriller Eyes Wide Shut and feel-good period pieces Carol and Little Women. Or, if your favourite thing to do during the Christmas holidays is nap on the sofa in between TV Gold comedy classics, there’s the ever-popular New York rom com When Harry Met Sally and Monty Python’s Life of Brian, both of which will feature introductions from the BFI’s film experts. Check out the full programme here. 

The Kingdom Choir’s list of achievements is not to be sniffed at. They’ve performed with Barbra Streisand, toured the world’s most prestigious venues, and sung at the very small event that was the Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan back in 2018. Now, they’re heading back to their hometown of London for a one-off festive special: A Kingdom Choir Christmas. The evening at Cadogan Hall will find the choir performing beloved Yuletide classics, getting their audience well and truly warmed up for a celebratory Christmas season.

The annual Gingerbread City exhibition has become one of London’s best Christmas attractions. The sweetest festive event you’ll find, it tasks leading architects and designers to use their building know-house and ditch their conventional building materials for dough bricks and sugar paste mortar. Expect over 70 gingerbread buildings, everything from doughy houses, train stations, markets, museums, schools and parks – making up impressive, tiny biscuit cities. This year the theme is ‘Recycled City’, with all the sugary buildings designed in ways that show how recycling can be innovative and exciting. There’ll also be daily gingerbread house-building workshops (£90). Prepare for a feast for the eyes, but resist the urge to nibble! 

Cult cabaret artist Dan Wye – aka Séayoncé – is on Christmas duties for London’s hippest theatre The Yard with a show in which their alter ego vows to stage history’s most outrageous festive TV special. They’ll be joined by Robyn Herfellow as Leslie-Ann, Séayoncé’s murderous, man-hating pianist.

The Charles Dickens Museum has an obvious right to go fully festive come December, and this year they'll be marking the season with special events and performances. The house will be decorated especially for the season and guests can book for costumed tours (Nov 13, 20, 27 and Dec 4) and after-dark Magic Lantern Shows (Nov 30 & Dec 1). Performances and readings of 'A Christmas Carol' are also available to book. The museum's annual Christmas Eve event offers carol singing, theatrical performances, Christmas pudding-making, readings and lots of mulled cider. Booking is recommended! 

Find more great ways to enjoy Christmas in London

Rick Astley is swinging into the festive season this year, with a big bang concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Expect to hear a collection of swing and festive classics hand-picked by the star himself. Will he end up Rick-rolling you with a swing take on ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’? Who can say!

Finsbury Park ink shop Parliament Tattoo celebrates the festive season in idiosyncratic fashion this December, with its inaugural Krampus Market, celebrating folkloric festive traditions and showcasing ‘the darker side of the holiday season’. Expect an assortment of hand-picked stalls from local artisans, plus vegan baked goods, coffee from Dark Arts, tattooing and tooth gems. If you’re dreaming of a goth Christmas, this one is definitely for you. 

Looking for a gay old time this festive season? Head down to east London’s newly-opened FLINTA bar Goldie Saloon for its inaugural Christmas bash. Hackney’s big queer living room will be dyke-ing the halls and staying open extra late for the occasion, and promises all sorts of sapphic entertainment, including a Butch Santa’s grotto, go-going elves, DJs and free shots for the most dazzling festive ’fits. Plus, ticket sales will go towards kitting out the venue’s new kitchen, so the east London queers and their Feeld dates can enjoy some sexy small plates along with their dirty martinis come the New Year. Grab your tickets now, or yule regret it. 

Dig deep into Christmas traditions and customs with Lucya Starza, a practicing witch living in London. She’ll share the stories behind our Yuletide rituals – and those centred around the Winter Solstice, too – and offer up some practical magic suggestions and traditional divination that work well for the season and, more specifically, looking ahead to New Year’s Eve. Each ticket-holder will also be treated to a drink of Devil’s Botany absinthe.